Sinas asks police probers to donate seized medical items to hospitals

FILE — Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (File Photo from NCRPO)

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila police chief Major Gen. Debold Sinas on Tuesday appealed to police investigators to donate confiscated medical equipment to hospitals treating COVID-19 patients by sending a request to courts.

“Pinakiusapan ko na po ang  lahat investigators lalo na sa QCPD (Quezon City Police District) sa Northern (Police District) saka sa SPD (Southern Police District) na gawin ang ginagawa ng Manila Police District (MPD) na mag-request at mag-manifest sa court na yung ibang na-confiscate na items ay kung pwede i-turnover sa hospitals kung san nag-ti-treat ng COVID -19 cases para pakinabangan ng health workers natin,” Sinas announced in an online press conference of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

(I appealed to our investigators especially in QCPD, NPD and SPD to replicate MPD’s move to request and manifest to the court that some confiscated items may be turned over to hospitals where they treat COVID-19 cases so that health workers may use it.)

Sinas’ statement came after a court granted MPD’s request to turn over confiscated health supplies to the Chinese General Hospital.

The NCRPO and MPD turned over the seized equipment to the medical director of the hospital on Monday. This includes 11 boxes with 650 packs of surgical masks, nine boxes of infrared thermometers, six boxes of latex gloves and five boxes with 230 packs of face masks.

Sinas added that he hopes more courts would allow them to give seized medical items to help health workers amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“Meron na kaming reference system kung pano gagawin and I’m hoping na yung ibang court at papayagan kaming maturnover kaysa naman masira at magkalat kalat lang dun sa evidence room namin,” he said.

(We already have a reference system on the donation request and I’m hoping other courts will allow us to turn over the items instead of allowing medical items to be stored inside our evidence room.)

Sinas previously said seized medical items from police operations cannot be donated because they are inventoried pieces of evidence needed in the filing of court cases against suspects.

The NCRPO top official said the courts will decide whether the confiscated medical equipment can be donated to hospitals and health centers.

Data from Philippine National Police showed that 822 alleged profiteers were arrested for hoarding and selling overpriced medical equipment since the quarantine period started on March 17.